VIVAs · 2012A

2012 First Sitting VIVAs

8 VIVA stations from the CICM examiner report for this sitting. Examiner wording, report provenance and reported performance data are preserved.

View 2012A SAQs →

Exam outcomes

60% (6/10)Written pass · MCQ + SAQ
100% (6/6)Oral pass · VIVAs
60.0% (6/10)*Overall pass · CICMWrecks-derived
How passing worked

Written pass: candidates successful in both written components (MCQ + SAQ) and progressing to the oral examination, divided by candidates presenting for the written examination.

Oral pass: candidates successful after the oral component, divided by candidates sitting the oral examination. The First Part oral component consists of VIVAs.

* Overall pass: a CICMWrecks-derived contextual figure: final successful candidates ÷ (candidates presenting for the written examination + candidates carrying a written pass). It is not a CICM-reported pass percentage.

VIVA stations

2012A

VIVA 1

Cerebral Circulation and Its Measurement
Opening prompt
This Viva will explore your knowledge of the cerebral circulation and its measurement. What is normal cerebral blood flow? Subsequent questions explored knowledge of differences in grey and white matter blood flow, EEG activity in relation to blood flow, measurement and factors that affect CBF and changes at CBF in response to altitude induced changes in physiology.
Current · V5 (2025) H2.ii · primary
Official source: 2012A CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2012A

VIVA 2

Common Β-Blockers, and Their Pharmacology
Opening prompt
This Viva will test your knowledge of common β-blockers, and their pharmacology. How would you classify β Blockers? .../12 12. Subsequent questions explored knowledge of haemodynamic properties, receptor mediated effects, esmolol pharmacokinetics and sotalol as an antiarythmic drug. Following which,
Current · V5 (2025) D7.iii · primary B2.iii D3.vii D7.iv
Official source: 2012A CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2012A

VIVA 3

Your Understanding of the Physiology of Transition at Birth
Opening prompt
This Viva will explore your understanding of the physiology of transition at birth. What is the normal haemoglobin saturation of a newborn breathing air? Subsequent questions explored knowledge of foetal haemoglobin oxygen dissociation curve, foetal/newborn circulation, changes at birth, normal values of newborn vital signs such as respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation.
Current · V5 (2025) P2.vi · primary C7.ii P2.ii P2.iv
Official source: 2012A CICM Examiner Report · page 12

2012A

VIVA 4

Your Understanding of Blood and Blood Transfusion
Opening prompt
This Viva will examine your understanding of blood and blood transfusion. What are the main components of blood? Subsequent questions explored knowledge of human blood groups, common blood group antigens, storage of blood, and changes to stored blood over time and process of group and screen for transfusion.
Current · V5 (2025) N1.iii · primary N1.i
Official source: 2012A CICM Examiner Report · page 12

2012A

VIVA 5

Microbiology and Antibiotics What Do These Pictures Show? (Candidates Were Shown Pictures of Gram +ve Cocci Above; Gram –ve Bacilli) Subsequent Questions Explored Knowledge of Classification of Bacteria, Examples of Medically Important B
Opening prompt
This Viva will explore your knowledge of microbiology and antibiotics What do these pictures show? (Candidates were shown pictures of Gram +ve cocci above; Gram –ve bacilli) Subsequent questions explored knowledge of classification of bacteria, examples of medically important bacteria, classification of antibiotics and pharmacology of gentamicin.
Current · V5 (2025) O1.i · primary O2.i
Official source: 2012A CICM Examiner Report · page 12

2012A

VIVA 6

Pulmonary Circulation
Opening prompt
This Viva will explore your knowledge of the pulmonary circulation. Briefly describe the vascular anatomy of blood flow in the lungs. …/13 13. Subsequent questions explored knowledge of venous admixture and anatomical shunts, differences between systemic and pulmonary circulations, changes in pulmonary circulation and drugs used to treat pulmonary hypertension.
Current · V5 (2025) C6.iv · primary C1.iii C5.iii
Official source: 2012A CICM Examiner Report · page 12

2012A

VIVA 7

Fluids and Colligative Properties
Opening prompt
This Viva will explore your knowledge of fluids and colligative properties. What is in a bag of 0.9% Saline? Subsequent questions explored knowledge of osmolality, osmolarity, mannitol, colligative properties of fluids, anion gap, classification of diuretics and mechanism of actions.
Current · V5 (2025) E3.i · primary F1.i F1.iii G1.iv
Official source: 2012A CICM Examiner Report · page 13

2012A

VIVA 8

Pharmacokinetics of Thiopentone
Opening prompt
This Viva will examine your knowledge of the pharmacokinetics of thiopentone. What factors determine how quickly a patient becomes unconscious with an induction dose of thiopentone? Subsequent questions explored knowledge of serum concentration vs time curves and the information derived from them, volume of distribution (factors that affect it and how it is measured), clearance (definition, calculation, relationship to volume of distribution), elimination (first and zero order) and half-life.
Current · V5 (2025) H6.i · primary B1.iii
Official source: 2012A CICM Examiner Report · page 13